System and method of emulating a network controller within an information handling system

ABSTRACT

A system and method of emulating a network controller within an information handling system is disclosed. In one form, an information handling system can include a host chipset operably coupled to a network interface controller of a first main circuit board, and a management controller operably coupled to the host chipset. The information handling system can also include an emulated network interface controller operable to be activated by the management controller. The information handling system can further include a communication bus coupled to the host chipset and the management controller. In one form, the communication bus is operable to activate a communication link between the host chipset and the emulated network interface controller.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/872,400, entitled “System and Method of Emulating a networkController within an Information Handling System,” filed on Oct. 15,2007, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, andmore particularly to a system and method of emulating a networkinterface within an information handling system.

BACKGROUND

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individualsand businesses seek additional ways to process and store information.One option is an information handling system. An information handlingsystem generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicatesinformation or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Becausetechnology and information handling needs and requirements can varybetween different applications, information handling systems can alsovary regarding what information is handled, how the information ishandled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, andhow quickly and efficiently the information can be processed, stored, orcommunicated. The variations in information handling systems allow forinformation handling systems to be general or configured for a specificuser or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airlinereservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. Inaddition, information handling systems can be configured to use avariety of hardware and software components that can be configured toprocess, store, and communicate information and can include one or morecomputer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements illustrated in the Figures have not necessarily been drawn toscale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements areexaggerated relative to other elements. Embodiments incorporatingteachings of the present disclosure are shown and described with respectto the drawings presented herein, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an information handling systemaccording to one aspect of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of a method of emulating a networkinterface controller within an information handling system according toone aspect of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a functional block diagram of an information handlingsystem employing a management controller and emulated network interfacecontroller according to one aspect of the disclosure; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of using an emulated network interfacecontroller within an information handling system according to one aspectof the disclosure.

The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicatessimilar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The following description in combination with the Figures is provided toassist in understanding the teachings disclosed herein. The followingdiscussion will focus on specific implementations and embodiments of theteachings. This focus is provided to assist in describing the teachingsand should not be interpreted as a limitation on the scope orapplicability of the teachings. However, other teachings can certainlybe utilized in this application. The teachings can also be utilized inother applications and with several different types of architecturessuch as distributed computing architectures, client/serverarchitectures, or middleware server architectures and associatedcomponents.

For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system caninclude any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operableto compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate,switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, orutilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business,scientific, control, entertainment, or other purposes. For example, aninformation handling system can be a personal computer, a PDA, aconsumer electronic device, a wireless communication device, a disklesscomputer system, a thin client, a network server or storage device, aswitch router, wireless router, or other network communication device,or any other suitable device and can vary in size, shape, performance,functionality, and price. The information handling system can includememory, one or more processing resources such as a central processingunit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic. Additional componentsof the information handling system can include one or more storagedevices, one or more communications ports for communicating withexternal devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, suchas a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handlingsystem can also include one or more buses operable to transmitcommunications between the various hardware components.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, an information handlingsystem is disclosed. The information handling system can include a hostchipset operably coupled to a network interface controller of a firstmain circuit board, and a management controller operably coupled to thehost chipset. The information handling system can also include anemulated network interface controller operable to be activated by themanagement controller. The information handling system can furtherinclude a communication bus coupled to the host chipset and themanagement controller. In one form, the communication bus is operable toactivate a communication link between the host chipset and the emulatednetwork interface controller.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method of enablingcommunication within an information handling system is disclosed. Themethod can include emulating a network interface controller using amanagement controller, and receiving a network communication using theemulated network interface controller. The method can further includedetermining an available communication bus between a host chipset andthe management controller, and initiating activation of a communicationinterface using the available communication bus. The method can alsoinclude enabling communication of network traffic between the hostchipset and the management controller using the emulated interfacecontroller and the available communication bus.

According to a further aspect of the disclosure, an information handlingsystem can include a host chipset operably coupled to a managementcontroller of a first main circuit board, and an emulated networkinterface controller operable to be activated by the managementcontroller. The information handling system can also include acommunication bus coupled to the host chipset and the managementcontroller. In one form, the communication bus can be operable toactivate a communication link between the host chipset and the emulatednetwork interface controller. The information handling system can alsoinclude a first local area network interface controller coupled to themanagement controller and the host chipset, and a second local areanetwork interface controller coupled to the management controller andthe host chipset. In one form, the emulated network interface controllercan further be operable to communicate network traffic received by thefirst local area network interface controller and the second local areanetwork interface controller to the host chipset.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of aninformation handling system, generally designated at 100. In one form,the information handling system 100 can be a computer system such as aserver. As shown in FIG. 1, the information handling system 100 caninclude a first physical processor 102 coupled to a first host bus 104and can further include additional processors generally designated asn^(th) physical processor 106 coupled to a second host bus 108. Thefirst physical processor 102 can be coupled to a chipset 110 via thefirst host bus 104. Further, the n^(th) physical processor 106 can becoupled to the chipset 110 via the second host bus 108. The chipset 110can support multiple processors and can allow for simultaneousprocessing of multiple processors and support the exchange ofinformation within information handling system 100 during multipleprocessing operations.

According to one aspect, the chipset 110 can be referred to as a memoryhub or a memory controller. For example, the chipset 110 can include adedicated bus to transfer data between first physical processor 102 andthe n^(th) physical processor 106. For example, the chipset 110including a chipset that can include a memory controller hub and aninput/output (I/O) controller hub. As a memory controller hub, thechipset 110 can function to access the first physical processor 102using first bus 104 and the n^(th) physical processor 106 using thesecond host bus 108. The chipset 110 can also be used as a memoryinterface for accessing memory 112 using a memory bus 114. In aparticular embodiment, the buses 104, 108, and 114 can be individualbuses or part of the same bus. The chipset 110 can also include buscontrol and can handle transfers between the buses 104, 108, and 114.

According to another aspect, the chipset 110 can include an applicationspecific chipset that connects to various buses, and integrates othersystem functions. For example, the chipset 110 can include using anIntel® Hub Architecture (IHA) chipset that can also include two parts, aGraphics and AGP Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) and an I/O Controller Hub(ICH). For example, an Intel 820E, an 815E chipset, an Intel 975Xchipset, an Intel G965 chipset, available from the Intel Corporation ofSanta Clara, Calif., or any combination thereof, can be used as at leasta portion of the chipset 110. The chipset 110 can also be packaged as anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

In one form, the chipset 110 can be coupled to a video graphicsinterface 122 using a third bus 124. In one form, the video graphicsinterface 122 can be a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Expressinterface operable to display content within a video display unit 126.Other graphics interfaces may also be used. The video graphics interface122 can output a video display output 128 to the video display unit 126.The video display unit 126 can include one or more types of videodisplays such as a flat panel display (FPD), cathode ray tube display(CRT) or other type of display device.

The information handling system 100 can also include an I/O interface130 that can be connected via an I/O bus 120 to the chipset 110. The I/Ointerface 130 and I/O bus 120 can include industry standard buses orproprietary buses and respective interfaces or controllers. For example,the I/O bus 120 can also include a PCI bus or a high speed PCI-Expressbus. In one embodiment, a PCI bus can be operated at approximately 66MHz and a PCI-Express bus can be operated at more than one (1) speed(e.g. 2.5 GHz and 5 GHz). PCI buses and PCI-Express buses can complywith industry standards for connecting and communicating between variousPCI-enabled hardware devices. Other buses can also be used inassociation with, or independent of, the I/O bus 120 including, but notlimited to, industry standard buses or proprietary buses, such asIndustry Standard Architecture (ISA), Small Computer System Interface(SCSI), Inter-Integrated Circuit (I²C), System Packet Interface (SPI),or Universal Serial buses (USBs).

In an alternate embodiment, the chipset 110 can be a chipset employing aNorthbridge/Southbridge chipset configuration (not illustrated). Forexample, a Northbridge portion of the chipset 110 can communicate withthe first physical processor 102 and can control interaction with thememory 112, the I/O bus 120 that can be operable as a PCI bus, andactivities for the video graphics interface 122. The Northbridge portioncan also communicate with the first physical processor 102 using firstbus 104 and the second bus 108 coupled to the n^(th) physical processor106. The chipset 110 can also include a Southbridge portion (notillustrated) of the chipset 110 and can handle I/O functions of thechipset 110. The Southbridge portion can manage the basic forms of I/Osuch as Universal Serial Bus (USB), serial I/O, audio outputs,Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE), and ISA I/O for the informationhandling system 100.

The information handling system 100 can further include a diskcontroller 132 coupled to the I/O bus 120, and connecting one or moreinternal disk drives such as a hard disk drive (HDD) 134 and an opticaldisk drive (ODD) 136 such as a Read/Write Compact Disk (R/W CD), aRead/Write Digital Video Disk (R/W DVD), a Read/Write mini-Digital VideoDisk (R/W mini-DVD), or other type of optical disk drive.

In one form, the information handling system 100 can include a firstlocal area network on motherboard interface controller (LOM 1) 138 and asecond local area network on motherboard interface controller (LOM 2)140 coupled to the I/O interface 130. The LOM 1 138 and the LOM 2 140can be coupled using a PCI enabled communication bus, or othercommunication bus, operable to be coupled to the I/O interface 130. TheLOM 1 138 can also be coupled to a management controller (MC) 142. Inone form, the MC 142 can be coupled to an out-of-band network interfacecontroller (OOB NIC) 144 operable to communicate out-of-band networktraffic. For example, out-of-band network traffic can include systemadministrator traffic used to access the MC 142, and in one form, can beestablished using a private network, secure connection, or anycombination thereof. The OOB NIC 144 can include various types ofcommunication modules, and in one form can include an Ethernetcommunication module. According to one aspect, the OOB NIC 144 can beisolated from the LOM 1 138 and LOM 2 140, and network traffic may nottypically be shared between the OOB NIC 144 and other communicationmodules of the information handling system 100.

According to one aspect, the MC 142 can be coupled to the chipset 110using a proprietary link 148 to the information handling system 100. Inone form, the proprietary link 148 can work with the OOB NIC 144 toaccess the chipset 110 and various resources of the information handlingsystem 142. In one form, the MC 142 can also employ an emulated networkinterface controller (not illustrated) and an emulated communicationlink 150 between the MC 142 and the chipset 110. For example, theemulated communication link 150 can be employed using a plug-and-playcommunication bus, a low-pin count (LPC) communication bus, of theinformation handling system 100. For example, a plug-and-playcommunication bus can include a USB version 2.0, or other plug-and-playcommunication bus, or any other type of communication bus that canestablish a communication link with a device or between locationswithout having to reinitialize the information handling system 100. Inone form, the emulated communication link 150 can be provided as a partof the communication bus 120. As such, the MC 142 can be coupled to theemulated communication link 150 to enable communication of data orinformation within the information handling system 100 as desired.

During use, the MC 142 employing the emulated communication link 150 cancommunicate in-band traffic and out-of-band traffic between the chipset110 and the MC 142. For example, the LOM 1 138 can receive networktraffic and can couple the network traffic to the MC 142 employing theemulated communication link 150. Though not illustrated, the LOM 2 140can also be coupled to the MC 142 to receive network traffic as desired.For example, in one form, the LOM 2 140 can be used as failover resourcein the event LOM 1 138 or another network communication device fails orexperiences excessive network traffic.

According to one aspect, out-of-band network traffic can include trafficintended to be communicated to the MC 142. In another form, in-bandnetwork traffic includes traffic intended to be communicated to theinformation handling system 100 and subsequent applications other thanMC 142 based applications. In some forms, combinations of in-band andout-of-band network traffic can be presented to one or more networkcommunication device of the information handling system 100.

In one form, the MC 142 can filter the out-of-band network traffic (ifpresent) from the in-band network traffic and couple the in-band trafficto the chipset 110 accordingly. For example, the MC 142 can discriminateaddress information including destination information, sourceinformation, or various other types of information, to determine a typeof network traffic. In this manner, the emulated communication link 150can couple the in-band network traffic to the chipset 110 as desired,and can further provide additional resources to communicate networktraffic within the information handling system 100.

According to another aspect, the MC 142 employing the emulatedcommunication link 150 can receive in-band network traffic from thechipset 110 using the emulated communication link 150. The MC 142 cancommunicate the in-band network traffic to the LOM 1 138 to output asdesired. In another form, the MC 142 can receive in-band and out-of-bandnetwork traffic, and can be operable to output accordingly. For example,the MC 142 can couple the out-of-band network traffic to the OOB NIC 144using the proprietary link 146, and can further couple the in-bandnetwork traffic to the LOM 1 138 to output the in-band network traffic.

According to a further aspect, the information handling system 100 usinga MC 142 operable to use the emulated communication link 150 can beaccessed externally through a public network to determine variousoperating conditions of the information handling system 100. Forexample, the MC 142 can be operable to report operating condition of theinformation handling system 100, update software, firmware, drivers,etc. using a software or firmware update process, access environmentaloperating conditions such as power consumption, fan utilization, orother environmental data, access error logs or other data, enable Telnetor other external access activities, or various other management orsystem management activities. As such, the information handling system100 employing the MC 142 operable to output the emulated communicationlink 150 can employ using network traffic received via the LOM 1 138 tothe MC 142 without having to use the OOB NIC 144. For example, incertain operating conditions, the OOB NIC 144, associated network, orany combination thereof, may be inoperable or out of service. As such,the MC 142 can be accessed using via the LOM 1 138 and associatednetwork to access and service the information handling system 100 asneeded or desired.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of a method of emulating a networkinterface controller within an information handling system according toone aspect of the disclosure. FIG. 2 can be employed in whole, or inpart, by the information handling system 100 depicted in FIG. 1, theinformation handling system 300 described in FIG. 3, or any other typeof system, controller, device, module, processor, or any combinationthereof, operable to employ all, or portions of, the method of FIG. 2.Additionally, the method can be embodied in various types of encodedlogic including software, firmware, hardware, or other forms of digitalstorage mediums, computer readable mediums, or logic, or any combinationthereof, operable to provide all, or portions, of the method of FIG. 2.

The method begins generally at block 200. At block 202 a request toinitialize an emulated network interface controller (ENIC) can bereceived. In one form, a request can be received at a managementcontroller of an information handling system. For example, a request toinitialize the ENIC can be initiated by a host system operable toinitiate a request to use an ENIC. However, in other forms, a request toenable the ENIC can originate external to the host system. For example,a user accessing a host system via a web interface can request to enablean ENIC. A web interface can include a selectable element operable toenable activation of the ENIC. In other forms, a user can enter acommand line input or CLI command via a CLI interface to initiate use ofthe ENIC. In another form, a user can activate the ENIC using a webinterface to a management controller of the information handling system.For example, if the information handling system fails, a primary networkinterface controller fails, or other type of undesirable condition, auser can access a management controller or a DRAC using a web interfaceand enable the ENIC to restore network communication.

Upon receiving a request to initialize the ENIC, the method can proceedto decision block 204, and can determine if the ENIC may be alreadyactive. If the ENIC is already active the method can proceed to block206, and use of the ENIC can be employed. If at decision block 204 theENIC may not be enabled, the method can proceed to decision block 208,and can determine of the request to enable the ENIC is valid. Forexample, a user name, password, etc. can be authenticated, and atdecision block 208, if the request is invalid, the method can proceed toblock 210, and a message can be output indicating that the request toactivate the ENIC could not be authenticated. The method can thenproceed to block 212 and a log can be updated to include a reference tothe invalid request. The method can then proceed to block 214 and end.

In one form, if at decision block 208 the request to enable the ENIC canbe validated, the method can proceed to block 216 and a communicationbus can be determined to be used with the ENIC. For example, acommunication bus can include a USB 2.0 enabled communication busoperable to enable connection of one or more types of USB devices and inone form, a virtualized or emulated USB device can be employed using theUSB enabled communication bus. Upon determining a communication bus thatcan be used with the ENIC, the method can proceed to block 218 and anemulated network interface controller can be initiated at the managementcontroller. For example, the management controller can include a USBcommunication bus that can employ an emulated or virtualizedcommunication device, such as an emulated network interface controller,operable to establish a communication link. The method can then proceedto block 220, and the host chipset can initiate a communication linkwith the ENIC to enable access along the USB communication bus.

Upon initiating a communication link, the method can proceed to block222 and a protocol can be established between the host chipset and theMC using the ENIC communication link. The method can then proceed toblock 224, and the MC and host chipset can be updated to include theENIC communication link as an available resource to communicate networktraffic. The method can then proceed to block 226 and use of the ENICcan be employed.

FIG. 3 illustrates a functional block diagram of an information handlingsystem, illustrated generally as 300, employing an emulated networkinterface controller. The information handling system 300 can include ahost processor 302, a host chipset 304, and chipset network interfacecontroller (CNIC) 306, a management controller 308, and an emulatednetwork interface controller 310. The CNIC 306 and the ENIC 310 can beoperable to establish a network link 312. In one form, the informationhandling system 300 can include a proprietary link 314 that can beestablished between the host chipset 304 and the management controller308. The management controller 308 can also include a media independentinterface (MII) 316 to access a second LOM 2 318 using an MII link 338,a first LOM 1 320, various other LOMs (not illustrated), or anycombination thereof. The first LOM 1 320 can be coupled to the hostchipset 304. The management controller 308 can also be coupled to anout-of-band NIC 322 operable to receive out-of-band network traffic. Inone form, the out-of-band NIC 322 can be integrated as a part of themanagement controller 330. In one form, the first LOM 1 320 and thesecond LOM 2 318 can be coupled to the MII 316 using the MII link 338.

According to one aspect, the information handling system 300 can includea USB 2.0 hub 324 operable to route traffic, a USB 2.0 integratedcircuit (IC) 328, and a remote access controller (RAC) processor 330. Inone form, the RAC processor 330 can be provided as a part of themanagement controller 308. In another form, the LOM 1 320 and the LOM 2318 can be coupled to a remote management client 332 that cancommunicate network traffic 334 which can include in-band traffic,out-of-band network traffic, or any combination thereof. In one form,out-of-band network traffic such as management network traffic 336 canbe directly coupled to the out-of-band NIC 322.

According to one aspect, the information handling system 300 can includea remote access card incorporating one or more components of theinformation handling system 300. For example, a remote access controllercard can be used within a server and can enable remote access to aserver or host system to manage remotely. For example, portions of theinformation handling system 300 can be incorporated as a remote accesscard such as a Dell® Remote Access Card (DRAC). A DRAC can include anindependent out-of-band management card including an independentprocessor with embedded OS, NIC, web-server, telnet interface, serialinterface, and an embedded memory file system. The DRAC can operateusing auxiliary power when available, without having all or a majorityof the information handling system 300 powered up.

According to one aspect, the DRAC can function to enable serverpower-on/off/cycle, server reset, and can be used to view serverhardware sensors (e.g. temperature and voltage) and hardware error logs,enable graphics console redirect by obtaining video from a DVI output,compresses graphics changes, and displays on a remote browser across thenetwork, control COM1 serial redirection to a browser, telnet, or otherserial interface, to enable Virtual Media such as a remote CD and floppydrive, and other support that can allow a remote user to use a remoteCD/floppy to boot the server, install apps, install new operatingsystems, etc. without physically accessing the information handlingsystem 300.

In one form, the management controller 308 can include a baseboardmanagement controller (BMC) integrated circuit. The BMC can be used in asystem used within a system employing a DRAC, or can be used within asystem that may not employ the DRAC. In one form, the BMC can employ aportion, or all of, the functionality of the DRAC. For example, the BMCcan reside within the information handling system 300, and can be usedas an interface to the host chipset 304 during system management. Forexample, a BMC can appear as a single IP address and all other trafficcan proxy through the BMC to the external network. The BMC can filterand proxy network traffic through an emulated interface of the BMC asdesired. The BMC can further be provided external to the DRAC and can becoupled to the first LOM 320, the second LOM 318, or any combinationthereof. For example, the first LOM 320 can be used to access systemmanagement features using a network connection to the BMC. Additionally,the BMC can be coupled to the DRAC using an Intelligent PlatformManagement Interface (IPMI) link to communicate with the DRAC.

In one form, the first LOM 320, the second LOM 318, or any combinationthereof, can be used by the management controller 308 as a networksharing NIC or as a failover NIC. For example, the management controller308 can employ the MII 316 in the event of failover, or to facilitateload balancing during high volume network traffic conditions. In oneform, the management controller 308 can receive both in-band andout-of-band network traffic in the event a network interface card ordevice fails. The management controller 308 can initiate using the ENIC310 and can couple in-band network traffic from the managementcontroller 308 to the host chipset 304. The management controller 308can further receive out-of-band network traffic and process as needed ordesired.

According to one aspect, the out-of-band NIC 322 can include an Ethernetport having an RJ-45 connector or other type of connector to couple anetwork cable. In one form, the USB 2.0 hub 324 can be operably coupledto the management controller 308 and, in one form, can be used inassociation with outputting virtual devices such as a virtual floppydrive, a virtual CD ROM, or various other virtual devices that can bevirtualized. The USB hub 324 can be used with the USB IC 328 and caninclude USB logic.

In another form, the out-of-band NIC 322 can be realized as an emulateddevice to enable network access. For example, the management controller308 can include the out-of-band NIC 322 and can establish the link 312between the host chipset 304 and the management controller 308 toprovide the host chipset 304 access to the out-of-band NIC 322. In oneform, if the first LOM 1 320 and the second LOM 2 318 fail or cannot beaccessed by the host chipset 304, the host chipset 304 can access thenetwork using the out-of-band NIC 322 through link 312. In this manner,the information handling system 300 can be accessed via the out-of-bandNIC 322.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of using an emulated network interfacecontroller within an information handling system according to one aspectof the disclosure. FIG. 4 can be employed in whole, or in part, by theinformation handling system 100 depicted in FIG. 1, the informationhandling system 300 described in FIG. 3, or any other type of system,controller, device, module, processor, or any combination thereof,operable to employ all, or portions of, the method of FIG. 4.Additionally, the method can be embodied in various types of encodedlogic including software, firmware, hardware, or other forms of digitalstorage mediums, computer readable mediums, or logic, or any combinationthereof, operable to provide all, or portions, of the method of FIG. 4.

The method begins generally at block 400. At block 402, network trafficcan be received via a NIC, LOM, of other form of network interfacecommunication device. Upon receiving network traffic, the method canproceed to decision block 404 and determines if an emulated NIC (ENIC)can be used to communicate the network traffic. If at decision block404, an ENIC may not be available, the method can proceed to block 406and the network traffic can be processed, filtered, routed, etc. usingthe host chipset as desired. If at decision block 404, an ENIC may beenabled, the method can proceed to block 408, and network traffic can bereceived at the ENIC. The method can then proceed to decision block 410,and if out-of-band traffic is detected within the network traffic, themethod can proceed to block 412, and the out-of-band traffic can becoupled to the management controller. The method can then proceed toblock 414 and the out-of-band traffic can proceed using the managementcontroller as desired. In one form, the method can proceed to block 416as a response can be output, and the response can be formulated andcoupled to an out-of-band NIC. The method can then proceed to block 418,and the out-of-band NIC can output the out-of-band traffic.

If at decision block 410, out-of-band traffic is not detected, themethod can proceed to block 420, and the network traffic can beprocessed by the MC, if desired, as in-band network traffic. The methodcan then proceed to block 422, and the network traffic can be routedusing the ENIC to the chipset or other destination of the host systemoperable to receive the network traffic via the ENIC. The method canthen proceed to block 424, and the network traffic can be received atthe destination. The method can then proceed to decision block 426, anddetermines if a response may be formulated via the ENIC. If at decisionblock 426, a response may not be formulated using the ENIC, the methodcan proceed to block 428, and a response can be output using the LOM,NIC or other communication device.

If at decision block 426, a response is to be sent via the ENIC, themethod can proceed to block 430, and the response can be communicated tothe MC via the ENIC. The method can then proceed to block 432, and theresponse can be received at the MC via the ENIC. The method can thenproceed to block 434, and the MC can detect a response at the MC, and todecision block 436, and the method can determine if the response shouldbe output as out-of-band network traffic. If the response should beoutput as out-of-band network traffic, the method can proceed to block438, and to block 414 as described above. If at decision block 436, theresponse should be output as in-band network traffic, the method canproceed to block 440, and the address data can be modified to includeaddress information of the ENIC as desired. The method can then proceedto block 442, and the response can be output to a LOM or other NIC ofthe information handling system. The method can then proceed to block444, and the response can be output to the network within the networktraffic. In one form, a response can be output via the in-band networktraffic using the ENIC as desired.

Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described in detailabove, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that manymodifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments withoutmaterially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of theembodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of theembodiments of the present disclosure as defined in the followingclaims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to coverthe structures described herein as performing the recited function andnot only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information handling system comprising: a hostchipset operably coupled to a first network interface controller of afirst main circuit board; a management controller operably coupled tothe host chipset, the management controller including a baseboardmanagement controller; an emulated network interface controller operableto be activated by the management controller when the managementcontroller determines that the first network interface controller is outof service, wherein the baseboard management controller is configured tofilter and proxy network traffic through the emulated network interfacecontroller; and a communication bus coupled to the host chipset and themanagement controller, wherein the communication bus is operable toactivate a communication link between the host chipset and the emulatednetwork interface controller: wherein the first network interfacecontroller is an out of band interface controller.
 2. The informationhandling system of claim 1, wherein the first network controller is anout of band interface controller, and wherein the management controlleris configured to be accessed externally through a public network via theemulated network interface controller to determine various operatingconditions of the information handling system.
 3. The informationhandling system of claim 2, further comprising: a first shared networkinterface controller operable to receive a network traffic including anaddress of the emulated network interface controller; and wherein themanagement controller is further operable to route the network trafficusing the address.
 4. The information handling system of claim 3,wherein the management controller further comprises: a managementcontroller link interface coupled to the host chipset; and acommunication hub operable to: detect out-of-band traffic within thenetwork traffic; detect in-band traffic within the network traffic;route the in-band network traffic to the emulated network interfacecontroller; and route the out-of-band network traffic to the managementcontroller link interface.
 5. The information handling system of claim2, further comprising: wherein the communication bus includes a plug andplay communication bus; and wherein the emulated network interfacecontroller can be activated without reinitializing a host system of thehost chipset.
 6. The information handling system of claim 2, furthercomprising: an out-of-band network interface controller communicativelycoupled to the management controller; wherein the out-of-band networkinterface controller is operable to receive out-of-band network traffic;and wherein the management controller is operable to route theout-of-band network traffic from the output-of-band network interfacecontroller to the host chipset using the communication link.
 7. Theinformation handling system of claim 2, further comprising: a secondnetwork interface controller coupled to the host chipset and themanagement controller; and wherein the management controller is operableto route network traffic received by the second network interfacecontroller to the host chipset using the emulated network interfacecontroller.
 8. The information handling system of claim 2, furthercomprising: a host chipset network interface controller coupled to thecommunication bus; and wherein the emulated network interface controlleris operable to be coupled to the host chipset network controllerinterface via the communication bus.
 9. The information handling systemof claim 2, further comprising: wherein the emulated networkcommunication interface is operable to use a first communication busprotocol; wherein the first network interface controller is coupled tothe host chipset using a second communication bus operable to use asecond communication bus protocol; and wherein the first communicationbus protocol is different from the second communication bus protocol.10. A method of enabling communication within an information handlingsystem, comprising: determining that an out-of-band network controlleris out of service; emulating a network interface controller using amanagement controller when the out-of-band network controller is out ofservice; filtering, by a baseboard management controller of themanagement controller, network traffic for the management controller;proxying, by the baseboard management controller, the network trafficthrough the emulated network interface controller; receiving a networkcommunication using the emulated network interface controller;determining an available communication bus between a host chipset andthe management controller; initiating activation of a communicationinterface using the available communication bus; enabling communicationof network traffic between the host chipset and the managementcontroller using the emulated interface controller and the availablecommunication bus.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first networkcontroller is an out of band interface controller, and wherein themanagement controller is configured to be accessed externally through apublic network via the emulated network interface controller todetermine various operating conditions of the information handlingsystem.
 12. The method of claim 10, further comprising: receiving thenetwork traffic at the emulated network interface controller;determining an out-of-band network traffic within the network traffic;routing out-of-band network traffic to the management controller; androuting an in-band network traffic within the network traffic to thehost chipset using the emulated network interface controller.
 13. Themethod of claim 10, further comprising: receiving the network traffic ata first network interface controller; determining an address within thenetwork traffic of the emulated network interface controller; androuting the network traffic received at the first network interfacecontroller to the emulated network interface controller.
 14. The methodof claim 10, further comprising: receiving a request to enable theemulated network interface controller from a remote client; initiatinguse of the emulated network interface controller in response to therequest; and enabling access to the management controller via thenetwork traffic of the remote client.
 15. The method of claim 14,further comprising: presenting a web page operable to initiate use ofthe emulated network interface controller; and receiving the request toenable the emulated communication interface via the web page.
 16. Themethod of claim 13, further comprising: receiving a request to access aresource of the management controller using network traffic received bya first communication interface; routing the network traffic includingthe request to the emulated communication interface; and enabling accessto the management controller upon receipt of the access request.
 17. Themethod of claim 13, further comprising: receiving a request toinitialize the emulated communication interface; and enabling use of theemulated communication interface without reinitializing a host systemoperably coupled to the management controller.
 18. An informationhandling system comprising: a host chipset operably coupled to amanagement controller of a first main circuit board; an emulated networkinterface controller operable to be activated by the managementcontroller when an out-of-band network controller is out of service,wherein the management controller is configured to be accessedexternally through a public network via the emulated network interfacecontroller to determine various operating conditions of the informationhandling system; a communication bus coupled to the host chipset and themanagement controller, wherein the communication bus is operable toactivate a communication link between the host chipset and the emulatednetwork interface controller; a first local area network interfacecontroller coupled to the management controller and the host chipset;and a second local area network interface controller coupled to themanagement controller and the host chipset, wherein the emulated networkinterface controller is further operable to communicate network trafficreceived by the first local area network interface controller and thesecond local area network interface controller to the host chipset. 19.The information handling system of claim 18, further comprising: whereinthe first network interface controller is operable to communicate withthe host chipset using a first communication bus protocol; wherein thesecond network interface controller is operable to communicate with thehost chipset using the first communication bus protocol; and wherein theemulated network communication interface is operable to communicate withthe host chipset using a second communication bus protocol, wherein thesecond communication bus protocol is different than the firstcommunication bus protocol.
 20. The information handling system of claim19, further comprising: wherein the first communication bus protocolincludes a PCI enabled protocol; and wherein the second communicationbus protocol include a USB enabled protocol.